Giggle Baby Wishlist

As many of you know, when a new baby comes into the picture.... things change. 

Especially our living spaces. We fight it & it still seems like baby items are running things. Ok, so then why not get the cutest things you can find right? ...... like stuff from Giggle.  It's one of my fave baby shops right now. We currently still have Noah in a bassinet & now at 4 months, he is starting to look like he needs a crib. REAL BAD. Time flies.

We prefer compact items that are sleek & modern, and also fit in with our current decor....I mean why not? - Of course, it should be functional too.  I gathered Noah's wishlist, (well, really mine for him) & as you see the Bloom Alma mini-crib is included. Would love to add this small crib to his little space.  

Do you have this crib? What do you think of it? .... Have you shopped at Giggle?

You can also shop all these items at Giggle.

-post by jen ramos

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Super Woman

New Year's was SERIOUSLY a great time.  How about for you? 

I got to be creative (what I love) by putting together a FAB gold glitter DIY 2014 sign & spend some much needed time with my husband & friends.  However - this new year will be a time to reflect on my business, my marriage, my health & more.   In the midst of everything,  I've been trying to listen to God's voice.  Like anything else, with so much going on, it's easy to miss a beat & end up doing the opposite of what I know I'm supposed to be doing.  I've made a few quirky goals for myself such as working out at least one more day a wk. & longer workouts. I'd like to get those 4-6 pack abs I had back a few years ago.  Why not?!  I'm aiming to stay healthy & maintain a stronger core, which means less back pain for me.  Another thought was painting larger paintings, I know that I tend to do a lot of little 8"x10"'s - but with the lack of time, they're easier to get through.  However, I need to focus & figure out when I could just drown out & paint. Noted.

Another thing was our on going journey to having a child.  I'm not going to lie, it's been a long road & certainly an emotional one.  There are days, I smile in public while quietly yearning for a child. I know it's a part of life to feel pain, but I'm learning that the way we deal with that pain... is what matters.  And, although I'm not ready to fully speak about this, I hope to soon. Until then, we are trusting that God is working behind the scenes for us.

Let's see....is that it?? Hmmm - now Marriage. It's not easy. Ups & downs are constant - but this year we are working to tip the scales, so that we could see more ups THAN downs. Trusting God - having family, good solid friendships & always picking ourselves back up when we fall...that is where we both want to be.  All in all, I AM blessed, and the blessings I see every day are reasons to celebrate.

My hope is to keep on inspiring women all over the globe..... to be strong, courageous, to be loving, kind, caring & to not be discouraged.  Even when I'M A MESS,  I somehow find my SUPERWOMAN vest & I put it back on.  To quote Alicia Keys....'I'm a Superwoman, yes, I am"- and we HAVE TO believe that... despite what others feel or view us as.  This year, I will strive to constantly see myself the way God sees me & I hope you ladies will do the same.  Happy New Year!!

-images by  jen ramos

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Joyfolie

Joyfolie is a cute shop run by Jessica Haley.  Her shop has a variety of cute wedges & peep toe shoes for little kids! It's been featured in several magazines & her line is now carried at Anthropologie!  


They are colorful, sparkly and fun! One style in particular from the women's line that I love is the interchangeable flower. The Alma wedge with a chevron pattern & gold trim are perfect when you want to do a casual event or something more dressy & exciting! You can place the flower toward the bottom of the shoe, the top or just leave it off. Neat!

Jessica was kind enough to send me a pair of these beauties - but I gave them as a gift to my assistant for doing such a great job! She loved them! Here she is below showing them off....so pretty right?? I love the contrast of the mint colored polish too!!


Joyfolie is offering a 25% discount toward women's & kids shoes to all MadeByGirl readers! CODE: MADEBYGIRL25  Hurry now & get your pair! 

I really LOVE what Jessica says in the bio section of her shop: 

Joyfolie has led me to believe that extraordinary things are possible if we are willing to trust in God’s plan for our lives and step forward in the pursuit of our dreams.

Don't you love when people follow their dreams?? Awesome.

-top 2 and last image by jen ramos

-the rest are via joyfolie

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LEGO Event at the Novogratz Home...

Hello! How is everyone? I swear, I'm so exhausted. Had family in town & stayed up too late. You know how that goes I'm sure. 

Well, I've been meaning to post about this event I attended on May 17th with LEGO friends & the Novogratz here in NYC. I ended up taking my NEW assistant with me, whom I hired a couple days prior, what a great first day of work no?! It was all about how to unleash a child's creativity. Cortney & Robert as well as a few others spoke about how a room DESIGN can inspire a child's imagination, and I very much believe this is true.  In fact we all agreed that EVERY child should be engaged in the home's design in some way or another.

Lego friends explained how boys like to play outside of what they build & how little girls prefer to explore the inside of the home. Coming from a family with both brother & sisters, I can say this is pretty ACCURATE. I loved decorating the inside of the doll house while my brother loved taking action figures & so on & then build forts around it! 

They also went on to explain how in a survey they performed, 71% of parents said that the interiors of the home did make a difference in the creative development of the child. Robert & Cortney also mentioned how they believe art should play a big role in EVERY room of the home. Basically ending it with saying, more art, less toys. I love this concept, I find toys to be a waste of space & money and unless it will stimulate the child's brain somehow, it's pretty much USELESS. Of course, that is my opinion...

On another note, while I was there, I chatted with Robert & Cortney. They are super relaxed and down to earth people - Cortney told me to roam around her home & show myself around...

 

So, I decided to shoot some areas that really caught my eye & bring it here to share with you. Their place is mind blowing.  Full of color, edgy details and just a whole lot of fun stuff!  Their kids were pretty cool too. 

I gave Tallulah Novogratz the gold CROSS bracelet I was wearing, she loved it. Those are the same ones that will soon be on sale on Made By Girl! Hope you enjoy this post! 

 

-images by jen ramos

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Isabella & Max Rooms....Home Tour

Janell Beals, author of the Isabella & Max Rooms blog is now one of my favorite 'go-to" blogs.  I have fallen in LOVE with her amazing home & all her DIY projects. I SWEAR, I think I went through every single page on her blog....and absolutely loved it!  She was kind enough to let me share her home with all of you. Even though I dream of living in a modern, high-rise apt., her house is definitely dreamy! My favorite is the kitchen & the large canvas her daughter painted...!

So, what do you think of her home & the way she displays her children's art? Clever no?!

 

 

 

 

images: Janell Beals

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